Children in Care

Statutory health assessments: organising and completing the regular health checks that every child in care is legally entitled to. These assessments look at physical health, emotional wellbeing, development, and any unmet needs.

Health plans: creating a personalised health plan after each assessment so carers and professionals know what support is needed.

Monitoring ongoing health needs: keeping track of medical conditions, immunisations, dental care, vision/hearing checks, and referrals to specialists.

Supporting emotional and mental wellbeing: identifying concerns early and helping link children to the right services.

Working with everyone involved: collaborating with social workers, foster carers, residential staff, schools, GPs, and other health professionals to make sure care is joined‑up and consistent.

Advocating for the child: ensuring their health needs are prioritised and their voice is heard in decisions about their care.

Complete Health Summaries for care leavers.

As corporate parents we:

• Act in the child’s best interests
• Support their physical and mental health
• Listen to their views, wishes, and feelings
• Help them access the right services
• Encourage high aspirations
• Promote stable relationships
• Prepare them for independence and adulthood

Our team is made up of a number of various professionals, including:

Named Nurse for Children in Care is the lead nurse responsible for promoting the health and wellbeing of children in care within an NHS provider organisation. They provide expert advice, ensure timely health assessment, and work with social care to improve outcomes.

Specialist Children in Care Nurses / Health Visitors are registered nurses with additional specialist training to meet the complex physical, emotional, and developmental needs of children in care.

The named doctor makes sure that children in care get safe, high‑quality care. They provide expert advice, support other professionals, and help make sure the health needs of looked‑after children are properly understood and acted on.

Paediatricians are doctors who specialises in the health, development, and wellbeing of babies, children, and young people. Their role is broad and holistic, covering physical, emotional, developmental, and behavioural health needs. Paediatricians complete Initial Health Assessments (IHAs) and health care plan and make referrals to other health services.  

Business support staff arrange appointments, manage statutory timescales, and ensure health records are kept updated.

Initial health appointment

An initial health appointment is the first health appointment you will be offered, usually within a 28 days of you coming into care. This is completed by a doctor, at various locations across the county. They will ask your parent/carer and social worker about your health too.  

Health appointment review a review health appointment is usually completed by a specialist nurse or health visitor. Children under the age of 5 will be seen 6 monthly, and those over the age of 5 will be seen yearly.

What is a health appointment a health appointment is a dedicated conversation with a nurse or doctor about your wellbeing. It’s your chance to:

• Review your medical history
• Update screenings and immunisations
• Ask questions on any health topic
• Play an active role in decisions about your care
• Developmental review

Why It Matters

• Prevention: Spot early signs before they become serious.
• Personalised Advice: Get guidance tailored to your lifestyle, age and family history.
• Peace of Mind: Leave knowing exactly where you stand and what next steps are.

How to Prepare

• Bring a list of current medications (even over-the-counter).
• A list of any recent medical appointments including dentist and Optician.
• Jot down any symptoms, however minor - timing and triggers matter.
• Note family health issues (diabetes, heart disease, mental health).
• Prepare questions or concerns in advance, no question is too small.
• You may be sent questionnaires to complete prior to the appointment.

During Your Appointment

• You will be offered to have your height and weight checked
• Be honest about habits: smoking, alcohol, sleep, stress, sexual health.
• Ask for explanations in plain language - your doctor/nurse is there to clarify.
• Discuss any mental or emotional challenges, not just physical symptoms

At your initial health appointment, your doctor might do a few simple checks, like looking at your eyes and ears, listening to your chest, and feeling your stomach.

After the appointment

After your appointment, a personalized care plan to support your ongoing health needs will be shared with you, your carers, your social worker, and your general practitioner. This ensures that everyone involved can help you stay on top of your health.

If specialist input or extra services are needed, we’ll arrange referrals to the right health team. We’ll talk through any proposed referrals with you—and, if relevant, with your carer or social worker beforehand.

All general enquires: childrenincare@ncic.nhs.uk         

Named Nurse suzanne.beaty@ncic.nhs.uk

Service operates office hours Monday - Friday excluding bank holidays

Countywide number: 01228 608382 

Your feedback is really important to us. 

We are always looking at ways to improve our service and be better at our jobs therefore we would appreciate it if you could complete this short questionnaire.

Questionnaire

We are committed to providing excellent care, if you’ve had a bad experience we want to know.  This gives us a chance to put things right, learn from the experience and make sure it doesn’t happen again.

Making a complaint is quick and easy. Either contact us directly with the numbers listed above or contact PALS on 01228 814008 or PALS@ncic.nhs.uk